We can do it. I have no doubt about that.

I remember years ago @Macca (2013 to be precise) wrote a list of things our players did not do that would otherwise make them a competitive team. I think the list was about 40 items in total.

The good news is that our list is not nearly as long to win the flag.

1) Leading patterns: Since Tomald got injured, the amount of space and continuity in our forward line has dropped off significantly. I often see players getting in the way of BBB or competing with him on one out leads. Mids and smalls need to stay down in those situations to get the crumb.

This can also result in us running out of time to pick an option before the opposition reset and clog up our leads. This then results in BS chip kicks to a position on low probablity, 45 degree angles. Get the ball low and fast into the teeth of goal.

Collingwood made an art form of it on Friday. It's also why they were so bloody efficient and won.

2) Re-embrace trust and imperfection: We have the ability to put together long, elegant chains of possession starting from centre bounce or from the half back line. Are we always going to get these looks? Not on your life.

Against Collingwood, we tried too hard to take the perfect option rather than the most pragmatic one. While the 'KICK THE BLOODY THING!!!' mentality annoys me when a bloke has possession on a wing or back flank with no one on him and no leads presenting, this is not always applicable when in a mad contest for the loose ball among three or more players. Sometimes, it's simply a case of trusting your teammates upfield and kicking to open grass. To me that indicates that some individual players think that they have to do it all themselves to win the game. 

If we do that we have no hope. It's time to reembrace selflessness and trust.

3) Find something to counter low entries into the forward fifty: I'll be honest. I have no idea how to fix this but it needs to be fixed.

Not every team can do this to us to be fair. You need to be supremely skilled to do it. But Collingwood and Geelong DO fit that description (and the Lions too if they lived up to their potential). 

We have two matches left this year. We beat Carlton and Brisbane, then we finish on 16 wins. That's one less win than last year. 

We are up to our ears in this. It's just a matter of executing.

 

20 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Well, it looks to me like the optimists can find plenty of excuses for our losses. I’d like to believe we can still win it, but a lot of things have to improve… the same things that have needed to improve for at least six weeks.  So far I haven’t seen any evidence that they can or will. 

Finals are another level again, we now know what it takes and that could be the difference. Look at a team like Brisbane, enough said.

Regardless of whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the next 6 weeks one thing is irrefutable…

It all rests on the cheer squad getting off their [censored] and making an effort. Such a disappointment. Booooooooooo!

The dualling banjos thread. FWIW, i still think we can win it, we just need everything to click.

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Too complacent (see Dangerzone) and not hungry enough.

My key concern. too.  Our best even with Tmac out beats anyone this year.

But the missed goals all would have been kicked by Jamie Elliot on Friday. Not us.

Salem smiling after a missed sitter on the first 1/4 siren , same with Max , was the major alarm bell for me.

A few needed tweaks sure, but zero Inside 50 tackles put the defence under huge pressure. Lazy, satisified ? - time will tell but next week against the Blues is the 'Line in Sand' game for the team if they want to be considered serious this year.

46 minutes ago, IRW said:

Yeah while I don't agree ,I am not disputing that they are good enough  to win any game on any  day.

Loving this conversation @IRW. I’ve stopped just half way through a 20km run which has given me time to think… glad you posted that statement as I was pondering a question.

It’s neat that we as supporters believe that we can beat anyone on any given day.

So what if the FD and players themselves genuinely believe that to be true…

If that is true for them, then I would infer that whether we finish inside the top 4 or outside the top 4 is irrelevant. Sure, the second chance is a nice safety net, but if they believe that their loading program gets the team cherry ripe for 3 weeks when it counts, than the optics of our form from rounds 18-22 doesn’t matter.
 

Sure they’d prefer to win, but if they genuinely believe that our best is THE best - then each game can be a knock out in the finals, then ‘form now’ doesn’t matter. 

It’s the trade off of form line vs being cherry ripe when it counts. 

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

Another thread derailed by loading back and forth.

Great…

2 minutes ago, rpfc said:

😂 another thread getting a bit meta…

i always think it's super hard to win outside the top 4 and harder again if you're forced to travel to an 'away' venue that first week

but i think this season is - geelong aside, perhaps - the most even it's been since 2016

we absolutely can win it, but we need that second tall target to do so

mirror the 2021 structure; win the premiership

easy done!

6 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Loving this conversation @IRW. I’ve stopped just half way through a 20km run which has given me time to think… glad you posted that statement as I was pondering a question.

It’s neat that we as supporters believe that we can beat anyone on any given day.

So what if the FD and players themselves genuinely believe that to be true…

If that is true for them, then I would infer that whether we finish inside the top 4 or outside the top 4 is irrelevant. Sure, the second chance is a nice safety net, but if they believe that their loading program gets the team cherry ripe for 3 weeks when it counts, than the optics of our form from rounds 18-22 doesn’t matter.
 

Sure they’d prefer to win, but if they genuinely believe that our best is THE best - then each game can be a knock out in the finals, then ‘form now’ doesn’t matter. 

It’s the trade off of form line vs being cherry ripe when it counts. 

20 km run? Are you Langers in disguise?

The rider on my comments was that " can win on any day" now becomes " have to win on every day" unless they get the double chance which means they can drop one game

I just don't believe that The Pie or The Cats can play any better than they are at the moment, we certainly can but we must stay in the top four. 

52 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Well, it looks to me like the optimists can find plenty of excuses for our losses. I’d like to believe we can still win it, but a lot of things have to improve… the same things that have needed to improve for at least six weeks.  So far I haven’t seen any evidence that they can or will. 

After moving through the emotional 'anger' phase which lasted all of yesterday I am taking a more logical view of the situation.

Your comments make it sound like we were beaten by 8 goals and are getting smashed week in week out and are no hope of winning games.

We lost by 7 points..... and smashed freo. We also only lost to the bulldogs by just 10 points because some young nerd was having a blinder.

We are playing pretty good footy over the last month, we aren't doing a lot wrong.

8 minutes ago, Deenooos_ said:

We are playing pretty good footy over the last month, we aren't doing a lot wrong.

Perhaps. But losing three of the last five certainly isn’t doing a lot right. 

We are certainly in the mix but better start playing like hunters and not the hunted. 

Sorry but Geelong look like a far more complete team

3 hours ago, BDA said:

We coughed up an important game to a hated rival.

I don't hate Collingwood

10 minutes ago, one_demon said:

I don't hate Collingwood

I think most of us are a bit raw still for sharing that 

17 minutes ago, one_demon said:

I don't hate Collingwood

You love all mankind I suppose 

I still believe we are the best team in it.

For me the only factors that play against us are Geelongs absolute desire to win a flag, with the timing , new recruits and form line in their favour and this ridiculous wave that Collingwood are on.

Next two weeks will tell a lot though and we must win both and stay in the top 4 to give us the best chance.

Van Rooyen could be an X factor up forward worth considering.

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by DeeZee

Deleted 

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by one_demon

1 hour ago, Deenooos_ said:

After moving through the emotional 'anger' phase which lasted all of yesterday I am taking a more logical view of the situation.

Your comments make it sound like we were beaten by 8 goals and are getting smashed week in week out and are no hope of winning games.

We lost by 7 points..... and smashed freo. We also only lost to the bulldogs by just 10 points because some young nerd was having a blinder.

We are playing pretty good footy over the last month, we aren't doing a lot wrong.

If the nerd was playing for us he'd be a hero and a star of the future...like Dogga...oops wait a minute .

Of course we can win it. In a comp that is a series of single games anything can happen. things we are going to need to overcome are. Better conversion in front of goal. Ability to play the game on our terms for longer. Im worried we are not fit enough to sustain the game style we rely on for long enough and the fatigue it causes enables teams to score quickly.

I also have concerns that our best 22 and playing positions within it are not as settled as last year.  

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by Bates Mate

1 hour ago, The heart beats true said:

Regardless of whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the next 6 weeks one thing is irrefutable…

It all rests on the cheer squad getting off their [censored] and making an effort. Such a disappointment. Booooooooooo!

Right?!  They’re pathetic. Someone should start a new thread about this. 😉🙃😆

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by WalkingCivilWar

One big advantage we have is we are the only team with grand final winning experience to draw on when the whips are cracking in September.

Geelong have a massive monkey on their back, the collywobbles are a fact and the rest of the contenders have little to no finals experience. Richmond have plenty but they don’t have the cattle anymore and will just make up the numbers.

Freo : lead by 30, lost by 38

Swans : lead by 26, lost by 12

Pies : lead by 22, lost by 26

Dogs : lead by 27, lost by 10

Pies: lead by 23, lost by 7
 

and 

Cats at PussyPark: 7 points down at 12 minutes last qtr, lost by 28

We have been “in” every game. I think we can beat any team if we play up to our talent and determination.  We are the only ones stopping ourselves.